Change of court date for Sunderland player Adam Johnson

England footballer and Sunderland winger Adam Johnson, arrives to answer bail at Peterlee Police station in County Durham, after he was arrested by Durham Police on suspicion of sexual activity with a girl under 16. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Thursday April 23, 2015. See PA story POLICE Footballer. Photo credit should read: /PA Wire

Fiona Thompson

SUNDERLAND star Adam Johnson will now appear before a court on Monday to face sex offence charges.

The 27-year-old England footballer and Black Cats winger will face three allegations of sexual activity with a child under 16-years-old and another offence of grooming when he goes before JPs for the first time.

He had been due to appear before Peterlee Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday after he was charged last month following an investigation by Durham Constabulary.

He was initially arrested on Monday, March 2.

The dad, who has played a for England a dozen times, was initially suspended and then reinstated by club bosses after he was arrested at his mansion in Castle Eden.

After his bail was previously extended by police, the decision was taken to allow the Sunderland-born player to return to play for the side while the investigation continued.

Sunderland are due to play against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium in the team’s second last game of the season on Wednesday.

The fixture had been due to take place on Saturday, April 18, but was postponed when Arsenal won a place in the semi-final of the FA cup.

Gerry Wareham, the Crown Prosecution Service’s chief crown prosecutor for the North East, has previously issued a reminder highlighting Johnson has the right to a fair trial and set out how it is “very important” that there should be no reporting, commentary or sharing of information online which could in any way prejudice these proceedings.